With two new inverters, KACO new energy is targeting the builders and operators of utility-scale solar parks. The blueplanet 155 TL3 and 165 TL3 are further developments which offer 15 percent more power than their otherwise identical predecessor models: Customers benefit from fewer inverters for the same total output of a solar power plant. Fewer inverters in their compact design and a weight of less than 80 kilograms simplify transport and installation.
The benefits of silicon carbide
"The new 'High Power' variants are real powerhouses. This is due to the high thermal stability of the silicon carbide power transistors. This gives the inverters an exceptional power density of two kilowatts per kilogram and efficiencies of up to 99.1 percent. They are optimised for installation in the cooler and more moderate climate zones. If you like to use our silicon carbide inverters in hotter regions, you should choose the original 'High Temperature' devices. These still deliver their full performance at ambient temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius," says Boban Vujovic, Product Lifecycle Manager at KACO new energy.
For use in other demanding installation locations, the inverter housing withstands dust, water jets and salt corrosion near the sea. While the inverters thus brave adverse conditions on site, commissioning and updates can be carried out remotely via secure Ethernet communication. The surge protection for the DC side comes ex works; for the AC side and for the communication interfaces it can be easily retrofitted thanks to the fuse holders already in place.
DC combiners complement inverter strengths
For flexibility in system design, the PV pioneer from Neckarsulm recommends the use of DC combiners. KACO new energy has just renewed its range of such string collectors in cooperation with the cabling and wiring specialists at HIS Renewables GmbH. In ground-mounted solar power plants, the inverters are installed at a central location, while the DC combiners are spread across the PV module array. This leads to short cable runs between the inverters and the transformer and means that there is no loss of power on the AC side: The high efficiency of the inverters can be deployed to its fullest. Those who follow the trend towards bifacial solar modules will find DC combiners particularly useful: They leave free choice to counter the higher currents with the appropriate fuses of 25 amperes and more.
About KACO new energy:
KACO new energy, a subsidiary of Siemens AG, is headquartered in Neckarsulm, Germany and one of the world’s largest manufacturers of inverters for grid-feed solar power. The product line-up recommends itself for the full power spectrum from PV systems for single-family homes and commercial and industrial enterprises to solar parks producing megawatts of electricity. Since 1999, KACO new energy has supplied inverters with a cumulative power output of more than 14 gigawatts. In addition to grid-tied string inverters, the product range also includes hybrid and battery inverters for energy storage, accessories for grid management and operations and maintenance services. KACO new energy is the first company in the photovoltaic industry to achieve CO2-neutral production. In 2014, KACO new energy celebrated the 100th birthday of the original parent company which, at the end of the 1930s, was one of first ever inverter manufacturers. More at https://kaco-newenergy.com/